Acetylene-gas machine.



No. 650,3I2. Patented May 22, |900.

E. FUNKE.

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No. 650,3I2. Patented May 22, |900.f

E. FUNKE.

ACETYLENE G'AS MACHINE.

(Application le Oct. 19,1899.)

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j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD FUNKE, OF NEW HOLSTEIN, WISCONSIN.

ACETYLENE-GAS MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,312, dated May 22,1900. j Application tiled OctoberlQ, 1899. Serial No. 734,078. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD FUNKE, a citi 'zen of the United States,residing at New Holstfein, in the county of Calumet and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and useful -Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene gas apparatus of thatcharacter which employ a battery of two or more generators, which on theexhaustion of the carbid in one generator is operable to cutoff theexhausted generator and to induct into service another generator havingan active charge of gas-making material.

One object of my invention is to provide means by which a freshgenerator may automatically be brought into condition for service byturning on the Water-supply thereto when the available gas supply isreduced and the other generator becomes exhausted, whereby the necessityfor the manual operation of valves is obviated and the liability ofexhaustion of the gas-supply is minimized.

A further object is to simplify the construction of the switchmechanism, so as to render it efficient and reliable in operation,easilv accessible for adjustment and repairs when necessary, and to sodispose the elements of said switch mechanism as to avoid interferencewith the adjustment of the generators when required for removing thespent carbid and recharging the same with fresh active carbid. j

With these ends in view my invention consists in an improved switchmechanism operatively connected with a floatable gas-bell and withwater-supply devices to a battery of generators, as will be hereinafterfully de-' scribed and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated apreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and in Which-l Figure 1 is a perspectiveView of an acetylene gas apparatus having my improved switch mechanismconnected operatively with the bell and the generator-battery. Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional elevation through the gasometer and parts of myimprovement, one of the .generators being shown in elevat-ion.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through one style of generator whichmay be adopted. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, in side elevation, ofmy automatic switch mechanism for cutting off the water-supply to onegenerator and turning on the Water-supply to the other generator. Fig. 5is a sectional plan View of the switch mechanism, taken in the planeindicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The same numerals of reference are used to4 indicate like andcorresponding parts in each ofthe several'iigures of the drawings.

The gasometer has the usual tank 10 and the iioatable gas-bell l1. Thegenerator-battery is shown by the drawings as consisting of twogenerators 12 13, although the number of generators in the battery maybe varied.

v To support the operating parts of myswitch mechanism which is used inconnection with the water-feed devices to the generators Vof thebattery, I have shown a horizontal platform 14, supported in anysuitableWay on the upper part of the stationary gasometer-tank. To the underside of this platform is connected a horizontal gas-pipe 15, which isprovided at its ends with the branches 16 17, arranged to extend in adownward direction toward the generators and suitably coupled to theheads thereof. With the horizontal .pipe 15 communicates an o-bearinglength of pipe 18, which passes through the gasometer-tank andterminates in an upwardly-extending branch 19,- extending through thewater seal contained in the tank l0, so as to discharge the gas into theoatable bell 1l.

Each generator of the battery is provided near its upper end with aninwardly-extending ange 20, forming a seat for a compressible gasket 21,upon which rests the imperferate head or cover 22, the latter beingattached to and suspended by the vertical branch of the gas-pipe. Shortposts 23 are made fast with the generator at opposite sides thereof,

-so as'so extend a suitable distance above the cover, and these postsare provided with openings for the reception of the end portions of ahorizontal clam p-su pporting bar 24, the latter extending across thegenerator-head. (See Fig. 3.) In this bar is mounted a clampingscrew 25,which is adapted to bear upon the head 22 in order to force the latteragainst the gasket for making a gas-tight joint beA IOO tween theVgenerator and its cover, the generator being suspended removably fromthehead, which is attached to the branch of the gas-pipe. l l

The water is supplied to the generators of 'the battery by feed-pipes26, which communicate with the water-chamber of the gasometer-tank 10,preferably at a point below the gas-bell, and extend through the headsof the generators for discharging the water thereto, substantially inthe manner indicated by Fig. 3. Said pipes 26 are provided with theseparate valves 28 29, respectively, said valves adapted t0 be actuatedsimultaneously-for thej purpose of opening the passage in one bra'nc h`of the water-pipe at the same time that the certain limits and adaptedto open one valve andfcl'ose the lother valve, as hereinbefore. brieflyindicated.V For the support of the swlcli mechanism above the oatablegas,- bellll;r employ a vertical frame 30, which is made fast'with theplatform 14, so as to extend upwardly therefrom. This framehas acentralupwardly-extending post 31, which terminates in a fixed guide-arm3,2'. A4 substantially-'horizontal switch-lever 33, is fulcrumed atitsmiddle to this frame or the postv thereof, as at 33a, and thisswitch-lever is pro-` vided with upwardly-extendin g lookin g-arms34,35, which,k arearranged in diverging positions'andare so proportionedas to have their` free endstravel in a Y path close to the overhangingguide-arm 32, each locking-arm of e the'switcl-lever beingY provided atits, free end- Vwith a'notch 36. A slidable locking-bolt 37- is fittedin an opening of theV overhanging guide-arm lfor vertical movementtherein, the lower endofsaid bolt being adapted to enter the notch inone or the other of thelockingarmlson'the switch-lever. Thislocking-bolt is adapfted to. be automatically withdrawn from an arm ofthe switch-lever on the y descent-1 o'fthe bell toa certainpositionthrough` theJ medium f suitable operative connections,"which inthe present embodiment consistofa lever 38 andra chain or pliable Aconnection 39.1AY The lever is fnlcrumed at a point intermediateitslength to the post V31, one, end. of said lever beingconnected'pivotally with the locking-latch. l The chain 39 is fastenedtothe long armA ofthe lever andto the upper end of-thefiioatablo bell, apermanent `allowance of abundantslackbeing,provided in said chain forpermitting the iioatable bell to rise and fall within certain limitsunder iiuctnations in the gas-supply without affecting the lever andwithdrawing the latch from locking engagement with the switch-lever. The

switch-lever carries a weight 40, adapted to automatically niove theAlever on its fulcrum for reversing the valves; but this movement of theswitch-lever under the gravity of the wveight is restrained by thelocking mechanism. The weight is fitted or connected removably to saidlever, so that it may be fitted 'to either end thereof, and therebyoperate the valves in apropcr manner to cut off the water- VAsupply toone generator and turn on the watersupply to the other generator.- Theswitchlever is furthermoreprovided with, a depending arm 41, thelowerend of which is connected through suitable arms and links, with thevalve-actuating rods or shafts 42 43. V.These rodsor shafts are arrangedin vertical positions to extend from the water-valvesnpwardly throughthe platform, the lower end of each rod being connected inasuitable waywith-one water-valve to turn the latter when the rod orshaft is rocked.The valvesandV their actuating-rodsare arranged for one valve to beclosed. when the other is opened, and these rodsor shafts are actuatedsimultaneously by the depending armon therswitchlever. Horizontal arms4647 are arranged in overlappin g relation at their inner ends and atthelowerend of the depending switch-arm41, a horizontal bolt`48 beingemployedtoA pivotally connect theihorizontal arms to thelower extremityoftheswitch-arm. Thevalve-actuvating rods or, shafts are providedsattheends 'thereof above the platform with the cranks 44, towardwhich thehorizontal arms. extend,

Y and these cranks and the .horizontal arms are connected by links 49,saidilinksY being `piv- 4oted by vertical bolts 50 to thev horizontalarms on tlie switch-arm, as clearly show'nby Figs. 4 and 5. Q

The operationis asfollows: With thefparts lin the position vshown byFig.-v 1 thegenerator "12 is in service to supply the gas through thepipes 16, 18, and 19 to the gas-bell, whilethe generator 13 is inreserve with a fresh supply of active carbid. On the, exhaustion of thevgenerator 12and av reduction in theavailable gas-supply the belllldescendsuntil it pulls on the chain with suflicient. force.. to

move thelever 3 8 and retract, the latchfrom the arm 34 of the.switch-lever. Theweight 40 now depresses oneendof theswitch-.lever IOOs o as to move the switch-arm 41 inra, direc.-

,tionA to. rock the valve shaftsor rodsso as to close the valve 28 forthe generator 12 andV I open the valve 29 to the generator V13.

The`

and thelinks between the arms and cranked-V valVe-rods is advantageous,because the parts are prevented from binding, thus enabling theswitch-lever to move freely. By having the connecting-arms pivoted tothe switcharm on a horizontal axis said connectingarms accommodatethemselves to the arc of travel of the switch-arm. The links 49 areconnected to the arms 46 47 to turn on vertical axes which permit thearms 46 47 to travel with the switch-arm in a manner to properly actuatethe cranks of the valve-rods.

Changes may be made in the form and proportion of` some of the partswhile their essential features are retained and the spirit of theinvention embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the preciseform of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to Vary therefrom.

Ilavingthus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. The combinationof a water-tank, a bell therein gen erators,valved water connectionsbetween said generators and said tank, said generators having also gasconnections communicating with the interior of the bell, operatingcrank-rods connected to the valves in the water connections, acounterweighted oscillatory switch, connections between the same and thecrank-arms, a locking device for said switch, and a lever connected tosaid locking device and to said bell, for the purpose set forth,substantially as described.

2. The combination with water-valves of a generator-battery, and crankedrods connected therewith,of a switch having an armgconnecting-armspivoted to the switch-arm, and links pivoted to the connecting-arms andfitted to the cranks of said rods, substantially as described.

3. The combination with water-valves of a generator-body, and atioatable bell, of a post having a guide, a lever fulcrumed on the postand connected with said bell, a latch slidably confined in the guidevand pivoted to the lever, a switch having the spaced locking-arms and adepending arm, a shiftable counterpoise on the switch, and meansconnecting the switch-arm with said water-valves, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD FUN KE.

lVitnesses:

H. H. GREVE, AUG. SoLnAN.

